Sydney Swans coach John Longmire could rejoin Wayne Carey in NSW’s greatest team
Sydney Swans coach John Longmire has made a giant contribution to football in NSW as a coach, but he could be recognised for his playing talents in a greatest ever team.
Sydney premiership-winning coach John Longmire is on a shortlist to be named in NSW’s greatest-ever Aussie rules team.
A selection panel headed by former Swans Chairman Richard Colless is currently agonising over 11 champion key forwards who must be whittled down to just two for the momentous side to be unveiled on May 9 in Sydney.
The unprecedented venture to name an all-time NSW team has unearthed some remarkable details about the State’s contribution to the code over the past 140 years, headlined by the fact that no less than 450 New South Welshmen have played in senior competitions, primarily the VFL and AFL.
Superstar forward Wayne Carey from Wagga Wagga shapes as the favourite to secure one of the two key forward positions, and his old North Melbourne ally Longmire is a chance to join him.
Longmire, who hails from Corowa on the NSW-Victorian border is vying with some all-time greats including Sydney’s Mark Maclure, West Wyalong’s Terry Daniher, Bill Mohr, Bill Brownless, Cameron Mooney, Jeff Kingston, Jack Owens and current AFL stars Taylor Walker from Adelaide via Broken Hill and Tom Hawkins from Geelong via the Riverina.
The fact Longmire has coached the Swans for a decade and won a premiership will also have him contention to be named coach, but his 200 AFL games, including a premiership and over 500 goals, still mount an impressive case for the 48-year-old to be recognised among NSW footballing royalty for his on-field achievements.
Longmire has made it to the last 50 names, but Colless says selectors have made a point of picking players only in positions they played regularly in, with the focus on coming up with the best ever team rather than simply naming the 22-best players.
State of Origin rules dictate players must have played significant junior footy in NSW and only players who have played more than 100 senior games have been considered, a criteria which has excluded at least two Brownlow Medallists.
Some ruthless decisions are still to come, but there appears likely to be a healthy smattering of Swans players, with 124 of the 465 nominated hailing from either Sydney or South Melbourne — including modern-day stars like Kieren Jack and Jarrad McVeigh.
The team which has been officially endorsed by the AFL and NSW AFL will be the feature of the NSW Carbine Club AFL Lunch and Colless says people will be shocked at the influence the Premier State has had on a game traditionally referred to as a ‘Victorian’ game.
“I think people will be almost gobsmacked when they understand just the sheer volume of players,” said Colless.
“There are no quotas in terms of eras or regions. We did it purely on people’s assessment of who were the best players.
“For example there are 11 guys who have been all-Australian players, won the goal kicking, won best and fairest — every one of them is a serious contender and we’ve got to find a way of identifying two.
“You’d be surprised how many actually have come from Sydney, so it’s not just about the Riverina and the border towns. There’s at least 10 we’ve identified who went on to captain VFL teams and that’s going back to 1915 and the 1930s and 40s.”
NSW’S GREATEST TEAM — THE CRITERIA
* State of Origin selection rules
* Minimum of 100 games at senior level in AFL, VFL, SANFL or WAFL
* Players can only be picked in actual positions. There are 22 players, four emergencies and a coach.